City of Toronto celebrates 100 years of hockey and Winter Week with free skating at six City rinks

This morning, Mayor John Tory joined Member of Provincial Parliament for Beaches East-York Arthur Potts and Toronto Maple Leafs alumnus Darryl Sittler, on Nathan Phillips Square to announce Winter Week and the celebration of 100 years of hockey in the City of Toronto by offering free skating and activities at six uniquely branded City rinks in January.

"Toronto is the largest provider of skating and hockey programming in Canada," said Mayor Tory. "Our rinks and skating programs encourage families to enjoy skating and hockey for fun and professionally. We want our kids and our grandkids to have access to facilities and programs that support these activities for another hundred years."

Thanks to the City's partnership with the MLSE Foundation, families will enjoy more than free skating at six City rinks next month. There will be games, music, giveaways and refreshments, and participants will get opportunities to interact with Leafs alumni and other special guests.

"The NHL Centennial Classic will be one of the highlights of the Maple Leafs' Centennial Anniversary season, and Winter Week will be an important part of the festivities," said Brendan Shanahan, president and alternate governor of the Toronto Maple Leafs. "We thank the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario for their support and look forward to a special week as we celebrate the game of hockey, and this historic moment for the Toronto Maple Leafs, with our fans."

The announcement kicked off with raising the Toronto Maple Leafs' centennial flag and wrapped up with a public skate. In January, the public is invited to get outside and get active this winter by joining Winter Week celebrations at these rinks from noon to 5 p.m.
• January 3 at Albert Campbell Square
• January 4 at Mel Lastman Square
• January 5 at Greenwood Park
• January 6 at Regent Park
• January 7 at Nathan Phillips Square

The final event on January 8, from 1 to 5 p.m., will be for the Mayor's Skate at Colonel Samuel Smith Park.

Over 76,500 drop-in skating hours are provided in 101 rinks and arenas, resulting in more than 766,000 visits each season. The City extended the rink program in 2015 to include March Break, which resulted in an increase of over 4,600 hours of drop-in ice time for residents compared to 2013.

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.